Review 4212: Seaside France, Chateau de Rochebonne

When

Location

Decent location on edge of small village, no mention of main road in material.

Nearby Amenities

Nearest supermarket approximately 5 minutes by car, restaurant and bar 10 minutes walk but only open Monday to Thursday lunch.

The House/Apartment

Eighteenth century chateau that had been renovated 10 to 15 years ago and neglected ever since ... wallpaper in living room held up with drawing pins, kitchen loused out with ants, all plates and glassware had to be washed before use, carpets and floors badly worn, defects to electrics (tripped four times in one week), lamps' cables extended with plastic tape ... sofa in sitting room torn, bunk beds broken and double in second floor front bedroom broken.

Garden

Lovely gardens and swimming pool. The surround of which was in a bad state of repair and caused injury to one of our group.

Furnishings/Cleanliness/Living Areas

Cleaner visited three times per week but swept out the broom cupboard! The floor under the living room furniture was filthy.

Bedrooms/Bathrooms

Two broken beds as mentioned earlier ... three of the bedrooms only accessible by walking through other bedrooms( not very private, handy if you've got kids).

Kitchen

Kitchen needed refurbishing, old tiled surfaces many of them broken, trim missing on work surfaces, and lots of ants.

Problems or Bonuses

Price of rental increased by £130 two weeks before departure (we had booked 11 months in advance). Also informed that bedding would cost €15 per person(x 14 = over £200).

Agency and Representatives (and price)

On site caretaker spoke less English than I speak French ... when the swimming pool broke we had to use sign language (found out on our return that the owners were actually living next door but never bothered to introduce themselves or check out or injured party member) ... paid £995 then charged £130 extra two weeks before departure ... plus £75 electricity deposit (nobody took any readings and we are still awaiting unused monies to be refunded) plus £350 breakages deposit. I have now been back three months and have only received £104 of this. Owner claims we damaged beds. We have asked for receipts, bills etc., so we can claim on insurance but we are still waiting.

Do you recommend this vacation rental to others?

No, I would not recommend this property to anyone. I have loads of photos plus videos of the aforementioned dirt and broken items.

This review is the opinion of a Slow Travel member and not of slowtrav.com.